» 2017

You own a big or moderate sized home in Cleveland Heights or Shaker Heights and have thought: “Gee, it would be nice to have air conditioning” You probably have radiators with a steam or hot water boiler and have envied people with newer homes designed with central air and heat. You probably have made some inroads by installing one or more widow AC units in bedrooms because, let’s face it, if you can get a cool, comfortable night’s sleep, then you can deal with the heat and humidity during the day.

Then, one day, you step into the home of a neighbor or colleague from the Heights area who, like yourself, has a big to moderate sized home heated by a boiler. But this home is different; it’s cool, it’s comfortable. You’re there for a dinner party and your hosts are even using their kitchen in the summertime. How’s that possible in a home old enough to be listed in the National Historic Registry? And in Cleveland Heights and Shaker Heights, a lot of the homes have surpassed the century mark or are about to pass it.

Welcome to UNICO. It’s a high velocity, small ducted whole house air conditioning solution for your home. Suddenly, it’s a pleasure to come home and use any room in the house with comfort.

As shown in the illustrated picture above (And, yes, this is from an actual installation done by Verne & Ellsworth Hann) these high velocity ducts are unobtrusive but powerful. The inner diameter of a single duct is just 2″. With the outside trim plate it’s just 5″. And even though it’s technically called a “high velocity” system, it’s actually whisper quiet. Contrasted with a window air conditioner, it’s practically inaudible.

There are many things we all do in life to achieve a level of comfort and happiness. Some are small, like a night out to a nice restaurant or bigger, like a vacation aboard a cruise line. But shouldn’t the ultimate level of comfort be experienced inside your own home? Outside it’s 85° with insufferable humidity. Inside it’s a perfect 72° with no humidity. Picture yourself relaxing in a chair by yourself or with a group of friends. There’s a glass of wine in your hands, a smile on your face, and not one bead of sweat on your forehead.

It’s a good life. A comfortable life. A house with a UNICO system. Installed with the highest of standards by the largest UNICO installer in Northeast Ohio particularly in Cleveland Heights and Shaker Heights: Verne & Ellsworth Hann. Call the experts of cool at 216-932-9755.

You know you have a very bad boiler when . . .

This sounds like a set-up line for a comedian. But in this case it’s an actual boiler that had been in someone’s home and was even used to provide heat as late as last year. And then it literally fell apart. In this situation, the customer was out of options. It was either new boiler time or bundle-up for the winter – and hope it’s a mild winter. If you live in Cleveland Heights or Shaker Heights you may even have one of these hidden disasters lurking in your basement.

Don’t always judge a book by its cover. Or maybe you should. Particularly if it’s something you’re going to depend on 24 hours a day, seven days a week during the heating season. And if the temperatures dip into the single digits you had better be living a charmed life or get ready to film your own version of “Life Below Zero” for TV.

This all leads to the greater question: how do I know when it’s time to replace my boiler? For the customer in Cleveland Heights or Shaker Heights (or even Lakewood) who have relied on a boiler pictured above, the answer is obvious. But not all boiler replacement candidates are as obvious. Which is why you should have your boiler or furnace undergo a yearly clean and check for proper safety and maintenance. The technician will be able to inform you if something is in a state of failure or has failed. Recommendations for repairs are offered. But making an extensive repair on old heating equipment needs to be carefully considered. The same consideration you would give putting a new car engine or transmission into a very old car.

Some days you can trust your own eyes. On other days you need to trust the eyes of Verne & Ellsworth Hann. If you live in Cleveland Heights or Shaker Heights there is only one phone number you should call: 216-932-9755.

Life is full of surprises. Don’t overlook the one hiding in your basement.

We’ve seen several people who post on both Facebook and neighborhood chat groups wondering what the spray paint markings on their tree lawn or street represent. Above is a good reference to help you understand what work might be proposed for your area. Often these “Location Markers” are sprayed onto the ground by an organization called 811-DIG. It is a free service funded by a conglomeration of various utility companies. It is not used exclusively by utility or construction firms, though that is the most often client. It can also be used by the ordinary homeowner. So, if you have a project that calls for trenching or digging in your property, call 811 at least 48 hours before you dig. They will come out and mark any buried pipes or lines in your yard — for free! They do not work in conjunction with any local building departments and they do not notify those building departments. They do this free service to keep everyone safe.

Every three minutes in this country, someone digs up or punctures a buried line or cable!

In some of these older inner ring suburbs like Cleveland Heights and Shaker Heights there are surprising hidden treasures buried underground. Although the word “treasure” might be a bit of a misnomer because usually it can be costly to excavate and remove. Back in the “old days” it was not uncommon for some of the older large homes to have large cast iron vessels for heating oil or even gasoline buried on their property. So, before you call in a backhoe for a landscaping project or even put a shovel in the ground for a trench, please call 811 before you dig.

Fall is my favorite time of year. Changing leaves, pumpkins, the scent of fresh apples and spices, soft-oversized sweaters. What’s not to love? Ah…there is that one little issue…your heating system failing! Actually, that can be a pretty big issue if you put it off.

The weather in Northeast Ohio changes so often (it’s the first day of Autumn and the high is going to be 85 degrees!) you just never know when that first cold day/night is going to hit! It’s a good idea to turn your furnace or boiler on before the weather gets too cold. Be proactive and make sure it’s working properly.

Verne & Ellsworth Hann recommends an annual tune-up/safety inspection on your heating system. This will insure that your system remains operating at its peak efficiency and maximizes the life of your equipment. Owners, Bill and Chris Hann add, “A clean, well-maintained heating system will save on energy costs and prolong mechanical systems.”

Autumn is a wonderful and beautiful time of year. Enjoy all the season has to offer including the comfort of a warm home on a cool day/night! Call Verne & Ellsworth Hann, a 5-generation company and the ONLY Hann family owned HVAC company in Cleveland, and schedule your heating system maintenance today!

You’ve been having chest pains so you go to your primary care doctor. Your doctor sends you for tests and finds there is a blockage and you need heart surgery. Who would you trust to do that surgery? Not to diminish primary care doctors or their profession, but I can assure you that you would want a heart surgeon to do the job. A certified cardiologist who spent numerous years studying the heart. A surgeon who has performed thousands of heart surgeries. A surgeon who specializes on the heart alone and not a primary care doctor whose scope of practice includes basic diagnosis and treatment of common illnesses and medical conditions. You would most definitely pick the best of the best heart surgeon! So why is it any different when it comes to your HVAC equipment?

Sure, a handyman can tinker around and try to fix what little he knows about your furnace, boiler or air-conditioning system, but you need a professional if you want the job done right! Especially on a cold winter night or a hot summer day. Not to mention the safety issues of making sure your equipment is running properly.

At Verne & Ellsworth Hann, a 5-generation company, our technicians are trained, certified and bonded. They are professional, knowledgeable and experts at their trade. It’s important to make sure your heating and cooling systems are serviced by a professional. Give Verne & Ellsworth Hann, located in Cleveland Heights, a call for furnace, boiler or air-conditioning installation, maintenance and repairs. Don’t rely on a handyman who isn’t properly trained in HVAC. Call on the experts. Call on Verne & Ellsworth Hann!

An evaporator coil is the part of an air conditioner that absorbs the heat from the air in your house. It’s located inside the blower compartment or air handler and holds the chilled refrigerant.

It’s important to maintain your air conditioning annually. You can avoid a situation where the evaporator coil becomes rotted out and leaks into your furnace as pictured here.

Verne & Ellsworth Hann, a 5 generation family company, located in Cleveland Heights, highly recommends yearly maintenance on all your HVAC equipment. It’s always better to be proactive and could end up saving you a lot of headaches and money in the long run! So mark your calendar and make sure to call Verne & Ellsworth Hann in the spring and fall to maintain your heating and cooling systems!

For over 65 years, Verne & Ellsworth Hann has been the premiere boiler installation and repair company in Greater Cleveland. In the early decades of our family’s business, we were responsible for installing hundreds of boilers and radiators in Cleveland Height’s historic neighborhoods. Today, under the ownership of brothers Bill and Chris Hann, our company continues this dedication to superior boiler service. We are happy to help you select a new boiler based on your unique needs; provide a written estimate; drain and remove your old tank; and install a new, high-efficiency hot water or steam boiler. Our experienced, professional technicians are also happy to service and maintain your current boiler. Contact Verne & Ellsworth Hann to experience our exceptional boiler installations, repairs and maintenance service firsthand!

The days are getting shorter. The kids are back in school. Fall is right around the corner. Many of us, including myself, love the fall. Pumpkins, changing leaves, hoodies and campfires. But as we enjoy the fall season, we know what’s coming next…winter! And I don’t know many people that love northeast Ohio winters! On top of the massive snow fall comes the extreme cold.

Now is a great time to get a tune-up/safety inspection on your heating equipment. One of our busiest days here at Verne & Ellworth Hann is that first cold day of the year. Everyone turns their heating systems on and some find it may not be working. Don’t wait until the temperatures drop to give your heating equipment the attention it needs! Give Verne & Ellsworth Hann a call today to get on our “soon to fill up” schedule! Let us keep your heating system working at its peak efficiency! That first cold day won’t be so bad when you can enjoy the comfort of a toasty home! Now the first big snow fall…well that’s another blog!

Continuing the legacy of one of Cleveland Heights’ oldest businesses.

Verne & Ellsworth Hann’s deep community roots truly set us apart from the competition. Our company moved to Cleveland Heights in 1957, and we are currently one of the oldest family-run businesses in the city. We are actively involved in the Cleveland Heights business community and have received many local honors, including Best of the Heights.

Owners Chris and Bill Hann – along with our dedicated team – are proud to service our Cleveland Heights neighbors with comprehensive installation, maintenance and repairs of HVAC and plumbing. Our company specializes in steam and hot water boilers.

If you live in Cleveland Heights and the surrounding area and need help with your heating or cooling systems, look no further than Verne & Ellsworth Hann!

Arteriosclerosis occurs when the blood vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients from your heart to the rest of your body become thick and stiff, sometimes restricting blood flow to your organs and tissues. This is similar to what can happen to your pipes over time! Sediment, minerals, rust and sludge can build up.

If you replace your boiler, you need to seriously consider replacing your pipes. Especially if they are original to your home. If you invest in a brand-new boiler, chances are you don’t want dirty water running through it!

Like arteriosclerosis that restricts blood flow and can cause major problems to your body, dirty and blocked pipes can cause major problems to your boiler. Verne & Ellsworth Hann specializes in hot water and steam boiler systems. If it’s time to replace your boiler, give us a call! We service Cleveland Heights and its surrounding area. And keep in mind that you many want to replace those pipes along with your boiler!

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What People Are Saying

Dear Chris,

All the men for the furnace and the electricity were terrific. Knowing your company for 50 years we would not have expected anything else.

- Robert J.( South Euclid, Furnace Installation, February 2019 )

Very pleased with the furnace that was installed. The process, from beginning estimate to the final walk through of installation and thermostat, was efficient and professional. The workers did a great job.

- Carolyn P.( Cleveland, Furnace Installation, January 2019 )

The crew was very professional and knowledgeable. The entire boiler install was perfect! I couldn’t be happier with the seamless process. Bill Hann managed the entire install, even to the smallest detail. In addition, the new copper return piping solved my first floor heating issues.